Young artists like Thabang take music industry by storm

It was about two years ago while leaving a supermarket in Lobatse that I first heard Thabang’s popular hit single,‘ Kea gana’ being played out loud by a vendor.
I have always hated it when vendors make all that noise with their boom boxes, but this time around I thought, ‘What a beautiful song.’
I automatically assumed it was South African. Like it or not, the reality is that there are only a handful of local artists worth our hard earned cash and time.
However, artists like Thabang are gradually changing this and the music industry is reaching higher heights as a result.
It wasn’t until a few weeks later when I heard it again on radio that I got to appreciate that we are actually capable producing such beautiful music.
The album was Thabang’s launch pad and was constantly in the airwaves and very much in demand in all the local jazz joints. Two years on, we have yet another Afro jazz offering from the relatively young singer, song writer, composer and producer.
The title track ‘Moratiwa nkamogele’ has been receiving considerable air play on local radio and deservedly so.
His commanding Tshepo Tshola-esque vocals mean he is not easily overwhelmed by the guitars.
If we truly listened to music for the message it conveys the track ‘Se bolae Mosadi’ would really hit home for most Batswana. Like the title says, it touches on the very important subject of passion killings and calls on men to put an end to this harrowing trend which is currently on the hit list of every advocacy fighting for human rights and against gender based violence. ‘Monna tia’ also carries more or less the same message.
On the brighter side, if you feel kind of groovy and you want to jam, you’ll certainly enjoy Ikatle o gole, Nkile ka bona, Ke tlaa thuswa ke mang, among others.
Save for the lyrics, most of the tracks almost sound the same, like you are listening to the same song over again. With the small local market and the public’s growing reluctance to buy music, perhaps releasing a fourteen track album may not have been the best idea.
But the African inspired guitar sounds coupled with the strong vocals make it worth listening to. However with the right support artists like Thabang can take the local industry to greater heights.